Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-07-14


and BY. as the hymn has it. You will
either have to go to bed or go to Bed.
lam"
/ believe that the question: Where
was Moses when the light went out?
has never been satisfactorily answered.
l am. however. in a position to tell
where the professor was when his land
lady turned off the gas at the meter a,
eleven O'Clock the next night. He
was reveling. as usual. in the paths OF
science. and he toll me he never got
such fright in his life. He thought
he had become suddenly stricken with
blindness, malady which his physi-
clan had predicted at the time he had
to take TO glasses. hope the fright
has done him good.
The professors method of navigat-
ing London is very peculiar. His mind
seePs to give his body the general di-
rection when he starts for any place.
and after that he sinks into reverie and
lets his body work out the problem
alone. The professors body threads
the intricate mazes of London appar-
emily without mental assistance. The
professor is splendid guide in f.:
when every body else in London is lost.
But if you arouse the professors mind
SO that it takes the place of instinct the
professor is as helpless as any body. In
going home from his class he always
takes the same route. and you can
always count on the professor taking a
certain turn at certain time, and
thus if wanted to meet him ! merely
took my stand on his route at the right
hour and very soon would see the pro-
fessor with bowed head working his
way along the crowded thoroughfare.
noticing nobody. 1t was thus that
met him after had been absent from
London over year. l stood directly
in his way and he ran into me.
Il beg your pardon, SIR he said,
and turned to the left. Again l planted
myself before him and again we col
lided. He used the same phrase, evil
IDENTITY not knowing he had run into
the same man; then turned to the right
only to collide again.
''See here" l cried, edo you want
the whole pavement to walk upon?
What's the matter with you? Are you
drunk. sir? This is the third time you
have run against ME. 1 won't stand
it, sir!''
Il really beg your pardon. sir 1t
was very stupid of me. l sincerely
hope have not injured You. SIR
''Only by not recognizing me. pro-
fessor. Nothing inflicts so deep an in
jury as to get the cut direct from a
persons old friend, or by one who was
once a friend"
"Bless me-" he said, '.is this you? l
thought you were thousands of miles
away. Curious that l should run
against you in London"
mo, professor, the curious thing is
that you don't run against every body
that happens to be in London"
The last time 1 walked home
with the professor, dense fog hung
over London. The air was cold and
of course damp. When we entered
the professors rooms he lit the gas
and then applied the match to the neat
pile of fuel that was heaped up all
ready for lighting. The dense smoke,
instead of going up the chimney as all
well-regulated smoke should do. poured
forth into the room. They don't have
the sheet-iron contrivances for placing
over fire-places in England that we
have in America; at least l never saw
one there. The substitute is generally
an open newspaper held over half the
Drifice. and then the flame usually con-
sents to 60 up the chimney and burn
the paper if it can. l tried the news
paper dodge. but it didn't work. The
room was filled with smoke. The pro-
lessor threw open the doors but still
the smoke poured into the apartments.
Good gracious!' cried; whats to |
be done?''
I'm sure l do not know" answered
he coughing professor. Ring the bell |
f you can find it."
l CROPPED around for the bell-handle
md pulled it. The landlady's servant
girl came running up the stair. She
Ook in the situation at u glance. Seiz-
ns the newspaper that l had been ex-
perimenting with she twisted it up and
'et fire to the loose end of it. This |
PAPER torch she thrust up into the
chimney. For moment the flame
'ame down. The next is was roaring
;heerfully up the fue. The fame of |
wood and coal followed right merrily.
Ehe girl then pulled down the top sash
IT the window and pushed up the bot
ON one. and in few moments the
DOM was free from smoke and the
ire burning as brightly as it ought to
10 on such an evening. Meanwhile
he learned professor and myself had
'cen standing in the hall with our
on. coughing and trying to
lear our Threats from London fog and
moke.
When We sat down / said to the pro-
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